Teacher Appreciation Week: Rob Green

 

Rob Green has coached swimming at NCS and St. Albans for 36 years—or, as he put it, "nine cycles of boys and girls on the Cathedral Close, and I think that is enough for me." A native Washingtonian, Coach Green is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park. He became director of aquatics for STA and NCS in 1998.

 

Following are remarks that NCS Athletic Director Heather Dent made at a May 5 reception to honor NCS's retiring faculty and staff:

 

"What I appreciate most about Rob's approach to coaching is that he uses positive language and motivation to inspire young people, and he fosters an environment where students feel safe to take physical and emotional risks. All the while, he provides a thoughtful, helpful, guiding hand when needed.

 

"Any swimmer who has crossed his path can remember his famous motto, 'Do It Right or Do It Over.' This phrase embodies the competitor in Coach Green, while at the same time sheds light on how he himself lives his life. He does not allow students to settle for mediocrity but rather measures success on whether it was their best success on that day. Always fair, optimistic and objective, he was the ultimate cheerleader, which made him a beloved coach for his entire career.

 

"It's hard to imagine our pool deck without Coach Green, but I'm confident that his legacy will live on through our students and our teams as they carry the torch into the future. His passion for the sport of swimming and his love for our students will be the standard upon which I hold others to emulate here at NCS. Thank you, Coach Green, for being an amazing example of a life coach. We will miss you, and happy retirement."